Seizure-Response Dogs for those with Epilepsy

Greetings!  We are so grateful for your support and wanted to show you some of Chelsea's good work.  Your support means the world to us and to those we serve!

We thought you might enjoy seeing this darling video created by the sister of one of our recent recipients.   Click here to meet Yalianna and Ethan.

Meet Dante and Jaida, two of our most recent Seizure-Resonse Dog Grant and Monitor Recipients.

Dante and Jaida are two of the sweetest kids you could ever meet. At the ages of 8 and 2, this sister and brother have been through so much already, yet they are always joyful and full of life. Their mom, Jessica, says they are constantly on the go. Jaida and Dante have had medical struggles their whole lives; both kids suffer from seizure disorders. A seizure response dog will be a huge blessing. Jessica says, "We know that having the assistance and warning a service dog can provide will change their lives as well as ours." Jaida is very curious and wants to explore, but she doesn't have any fear of the world around her. She is also non-verbal, so it's incredibly scary to have that fear of letting her be more independent because she could easily get hurt. She is growing up so fast and would love to sleep in her own bed with her own space, but seizures happen while she sleeps.  Dante was born at 27 weeks and weighed only two pounds. In the first 24 hours they didn't expect him to make it. God had other plans... Dante stayed in the NICU for five months before being able to go home. Jessica recounts getting through those months only through the grace of God, love, and support from family and friends. They kept her going until that amazing moment when she could finally leave the hospital with her beautiful baby boy. Dante has had heart surgery and three brain surgeries, and he now struggles with seizures every other week. Dante also has seizures in his sleep. His parents are hoping and praying his medication will get them under control soon. A seizure response dog will be a great asset to Jaida, Dante, and their parents.  Both Jaida and Dante have received night-time monitoring devices from The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation.  Their service dog is currently in training and will be finished in 18-24 months.

Meet Domesti-Pups, a CHF recommended trainer.

Domesti-PUPS is a nonprofit organization based in Lincoln, Nebraska, that provides therapy dogs and service dogs to people with disabilities. Our Petting-PUPS animal-assisted activity teams provide meet-and-greet opportunities to people in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living centers, and hospice. We also provide trained therapy dogs to institutions such as classrooms, counseling centers, and mental health facilities. The Domesti-PUPS Service-PUPS program helps disabled individuals gain the independence they so greatly deserve. These dogs are taught to pick up dropped items from the floor, open doors, turn on light switches, provide balance, pull wheelchairs, alert to diabetic sugar highs and lows, respond and/or alert to seizure activity, and they can even be taught to sort laundry! These special canines are taught anywhere from 30-90 commands over a two-year period before being placed with their future life partners. While we place service dogs with persons of all ages, we specialize in seizure response dogs for children.

Recent Testimonials

"I am a RN and was searching... surfing... one nigh, desperate to find answers for our teenage son when the good Lord took me to “Chelsea”.......I had already emailed Domesti-PUPS without going back to their site...... then The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation (CHF) responded right back to me! I could not believe someone sooo busy took the time to respond and kept writing me.  I learned more in a couple emails than I have in 4 years!! And then I saw CHF on Domesti-PUPS website!! The good Lord was moving all the pieces in place!! We are soooo grateful to CHF and Chelsea will now be in our hearts always and forever too....."  (soon to be seizure-response service dog grant recipient).

"This foundation was built on tears and an abundance of love. It's more than apparent. The love and compassion they show from the second you write them is instantaneous. Thank you so much for all you have done for our family. I hope to be a huge part of this amazing organization. I never expected what I received and I'm in awe. From the bottom of our hearts thank you for the huge piece of mind you have given us." (recent monitor recipient)

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation is a Colorado nonprofit corporation formed to provide help and support to individuals, particularly children and young adults, who have epilepsy. Chelsea touched many lives during her short 16 years here, and we are amazed at how many people she continues to touch through the foundation even after her passing.  Her generous heart longed to see love and care come to others.

In her memory, The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation is designed to assist people living with epilepsy.  Funds raised by this foundation provide grants for fully trained seizure-response dogs and for, what we believe to be, life-saving movement monitors to those in need.  We educate the public about SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy) and provide support to those who have been affected by SUDEP.  The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation exists to raise awareness of SUDEP and to grant comfort, hope, and positivity to individuals and families living with epilepsy. 

To date, The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation has had the privilege of providing 107 seizure-response dog grants and has provided over 530 nighttime and daytime movement monitors for those in need.  We have awarded 44 families with wish trips to the one-of-a-kind Epilepsy Awareness Expo and Day at Disneyland. The Expo offers a wealth of information and exposure to professionals, treatment options, education, and hope.

Links:

• Meet Yalianna and Ethan
• STOMP Out Epilepsy and SUDEP Awareness Walk